The Best Way To Deter Mosquitoes - Naturally

I live in Houston, Texas, otherwise known as the Mosquito Capital of the World. Those little buggers are everywhere. Sometimes they're not even deterred by bug spray. So what exactly are you supposed to do? Stop breathing, suggests this helpful article from The Atlantic. (Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide that you exhale.) But it also includes a link to a New York Times story with some more, er, practical advice. You may be surprised to learn that the #1 mosquito deterrent doesn't involve any chemicals at all — and it's something you probably have at home already.

The New York Times credits this stroke of genius to Frank Swift, president of Swift Food Equipment Inc, who in turns credits the idea to "trying to think like a bug, and realizing I don’t like flying into a 15 m.p.h. wind.”

This is backed up by the American Mosquito Control association, which says: "Mosquitoes are relatively weak fliers, so placing a large fan on your deck can provide a low-tech solution." And a scientific study found that fans can also help deter mosquitoes by disturbing the carbon dioxide plumes that they use to hunt you down.

So the next time you have a backyard party, drag out the old oscillating fan (or a table fan, or a box fan — really anything will do) and say goodbye to buzzing and biting.